§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards the European Commission's proposals on the production of euro coins; what rules will apply in the United Kingdom; what is meant by the proviso that such production should not change the image of the euro; what legal recourse there will be when a breach of this proviso occurs; what is the definition of European territory covered by this proposal; and if he will make a statement. [73768]
§ Ms HewittThe European Commission communication sets out arrangements for the enforcement of copyright protection on the common face design of euro coins and644W business, for example CBI, Business Links, TUC Chambers of Commerce. The Chairmen of the 12 Regional Euro Forums are as follows:
the applicable reproduction regime. Among other things, the reproduction regime specifies that reproductions of the common face design should not
damage or detract the image of the euro".The Commission has assigned the copyright on the design of the common face of euro coins to each participating Member State. Enforcement of the copyright will be ensured by participating Member States according to their national legislation and in compliance with an agreed reproduction regime. The Commission will enforce the copyright in non-participating Member States according to the relevant national legislation. In the event of a breach of the reproduction rules, subsequent action may take the form of civil or criminal proceedings.
There is no definition of European territory in the Commission rules, but the scope of application of them is coincident with the scope of application of the monetary policy provisions of the EC Treaty.